Fabric testing machine



Oct. 25, 1955 R. R. ALLEN ET AL 2,721,473

FABRIC TESTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 J9 L, @165 Q E w? 760 175 i I 152 1 i 6 b 3 1 T- 2 155 3 486: 1

WNVENTORS BY M fi A TTOE/VE Y Oct. 25, 1955 R. R. ALLEN ET AL FABRIC TESTING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 5. 1951 mmvrozes BY M ATTORNEY Oct. 25, 1955 R. R. ALLEN ET AL FABRIC TESTING MACHINE 6 sheets-S 3 Filed Feb. 5 1951 =1 4. ENTORS T j BY TOEA/ Oct. 25, 1955 R. R. ALLEN ET AL 2,721,473

FABRIC TESTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 107 102; T; '7. l j

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@ ra w ATTORNEY Oct. 25, R R ALLEN ET AL FABRIC TESTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 W m r m flz 54 h 112 54 V E 1/2 Fici E 1D ll {25% Tia. 14. WM

By W.

Airmen/EV Oct. 25, 1955 R. R. ALLEN ET AL FABRIC TESTING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Feb. 5, 195] m VF INVENTORS BY m A T7'0E/VEV m 8% g 5 g V? E w 5 3 United States Patent FABRIC TESTING MACHINE Robert R. Allen, Endwell, N. Y., and Robert J. Novotny,

Irvington, N. .I., assignors to Custom Scientific Instruments, Inc, Arlington, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application February 5, 1951, Serial No. 209,340

16 Claims. (Cl. 73-7) Our present invention relates to a wear testing machine for fabrics of various kinds.

In testing, fabrics are generally subjected to abrasion while held substantially flat, to abrasion while folded double, as in a hem, or while folded over a bar, and to flexing. Generally the test is conducted until the fabric wears through or fails, but in flat abrasion tests of coated materials and of thick materials, wear to a depth depending on the thickness or other qualities of the material gives a better or more informative test. It is of the greatest importance that the conditions be identical in all tests or be reproducible with exactness and certainty, and that the tests be as free as possible from dependence on the judgement of the operator.

Our present invention provides an apparatus in which the various tests mentioned above may be conducted under conditions which may be exactly and automatically reproduced and which may be adjusted to various requirements and conditions.

In our invention we provide a testing machine which may be adapted for abrasion tests either to complete break through or to a set depth, or for a flexing abrasion with an automatic stop when the end point is reached. The automatic stopping of the machine at the exact point of failure or at a point previously set, avoids the necessity for the operator to determine the stopping point and to stop the machine at this point. It also frees the machine from the requirement of attention during the test. Moreover the machine may be set to reproduce with certainty any given conditions of wear.

The stopping of the machine at the end point is electrically controlled. For a flat abrasion test, the fabric is placed on an inflated flexible dome of suitable material, such as rubber, having at its upper surface a metal terminal inset of an electrical circuit. This dome is carried on a base which is reciprocated horizontally by mechanism driven by an electric motor controlled by the circuit. The reciprocations are counted by a counting device and the base and dome are rotated slightly with each stroke. Immediately above this dome, is an abrasion head carried on a balanced lever and covered with a suitable strip of abrasive, such as emery cloth or emery paper, opposed to the specimen of fabric on the dome. The abrasion head also carries a contact terminal immediately above that of the flexible dome, the abrasive strip having a small opening so that contact may be made, closing the electric circuit to stop the motor when the fabric is worn through between the contacts. The dome is inflated by air supplied from a pump driven at constant speed and the pressure regulated by a controlled leak valve to provide a Wear area of selected extent. The abrasion head may be weighted with a selected weight to provide a desired pressure on the fabric. The contact terminal in the dome is connected in the circuit by a spring contact suflicient to maintain contact under variations in the inflation of the dome without affecting the inflation.

When the apparatus is to be used for testing depth wear as in the case of thick coated fabrics or carpets or floor coverings, the arrangement is the same except that the circuit is closed between a branch having a contact terminal fixed with relation to the dome and a terminal movable with the abrasion head and spaced from the fixed terminal a distance corresponding to the depth of wear.

When the apparatus is to be used for the testing of a folded fabric the dome is replaced by a base having a clamp in which the fold of cloth is held either at its selvage, in a free fold, or folded over a bar and contact made as the edge of the fold is worn through. In testing for flexing wear, one end of the fabric specimen is gripped and held in a reciprocating base fitted with a gripping element then bent about a floating flexing bar and the other end gripped and held in the abrasion head. The flexing bar is connected through cables to a suspended weight so that when the fabric Wears through and fails the weight drops to close the motor stopping circuit. The flexing bar is provided with a Wear resistant insert, about which the fabric is bent, to avoid error through unequal wear.

The circuit controlling the stopping of the motor has branches, one closed through the dome and abrasion head terminals, one closed through the depth contacts, and one closed through the release of the flexing weight. A timer circuit controlling the motor is also provided to stop the motor at a selected time interval'to determine the amount of wear in the selected interval by a clamping device which holds the cloth doubled or folded on itself or over a bar. Upon wearing of the fabric to failure, contact is made between the clamping element and the contact in the abrasion head.

For a flexing test the dome is replaced by a clamp in which is secured one end of a strip of fabric to be tested. The strip is then passed about a horizontal floating wearing bar and secured to the head. The wearing bar is held taut by a flexible cord suspended on pulleys and is moved back and forth as the end of the strip is reciprocated. When the strip wears through the weights drop and close a stop switch.

Various features of our invention are illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a front view of a machine embodying a preferred form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the machine taken on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the machine, certain parts of the casing being removed to illustrate the working elements;

Fig. 4 is a detail view on a larger scale of a fabric supporting dome and abrasion head;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a part of the apparatus showing a ratchet for rotating the fabric supporting base;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section of a modified form of the fabric supporting base;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the fabric clamping elements for the head shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a similar vertical view of a still further modification of the fabric supporting base;

Figs. 9, l0 and 11 are sectional views of the base of Fig. 7 showing the placement therein of the fabric for testing the selvage, a doubled fabric and a fabric over a bar;

Fig. 12 is an elevation partly in section of the apparatus arranged for a flexing test;

Fig. 13 is a detail view in perspective of the flexing bar and its connections;

Fig. 14 is a cross-section of the flexing bar of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a wiring diagram showing the electrical con nections of the apparatus.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings, the various parts of the apparatus are illustrated as mounted on abase 20 having a 21 in its front face and having on which is mounted a fixed g or inwardly bevelled side edges -Mounted on the guide 23 is depending, inwardly extending, undercut -or bevelled edges of t ofthe guide isprovided with a d 26, a's shown in Fig. 2 concealing The base 24 is connected at a pivotpin 27 to a pitman 28 dr' eccentric 29 secured on a ver motor 30. The :motor in rota the 'base 24 to reciprocate or wardly on the. guide 23.

The reciprocating base '24 is 1 ing=boss 31 on whichis rotatabl portingiplate 32.

Pivotallymounted'on'an ear the pitrnan 28 is a .pawl '34 ha engage ratchet'teeth on the peri porting Eplate 32. Aspring '37 l counter-clockwise as'viewed in end :35 against the ratchet 'teet the specimen supporting plate 32 The pitman28, sliding base ing=p'late move together as a u about thepin 27 with each reci swings the car 33 about the u back and forth to engage and teeth-36 and thus rotate the spe The reciprocations of the b able counter which may be s each test. The counter may construction.

As shown more in detail in 32 is provided near its outer pe 38 overlying an outwardly ex or flange of .a flexible resilient a mounted on the dome. The wardly onto the specimen plat specimen by means of a'clarnp threaded flange screwed tightly ery of the specimen plate 32.

Mounted in the apex or up 39 is a metallic contact 42 *se The dome may be made of v flexible resilient material.

Extending :downwa'rdly fro the arms of a spider 43, which conductive'and extend downwa of the specimen plate 32. Th only to make contact with the u stiffness or strength to offer or resistance to, downward pr The dome 39-is inflated un from-an air pump 44 (-Fig. 2) and a'flexible branch pipe-461 ing upwardly through the has to the interior of the dome. boss and the rotating specim suitable sealing ring 49.

To maintain uniformly reg 39, air :is constantly bled-or p pipe'system 45, 46 through an regulating va1ve-51. B-y adj trol the rate of escape of air, 1 tem delivered 'to the -'dome ma and held at any desired value.

The'pressure supplied throu on a pressure gage 52 (Fig. through a branch-53 (Fig.2).

.An abrasion head 54 (Figs. lower end of a vertical link 5 lel levers 56 and 557 "in push fame and above the contact 42. The pivoted at 58 and 59 respectively on ing upwardly from the surface 22. iterweighted by weights 61 and 62 d to provide any desired downward sion head 54 on the upper surface on the dome 39. ressure head 54 may be lifted until he position shown in broken lines in pin 63, carried on the underside of hook or latch 64 supported on a ace 22. is position a suitable abrasive strip f'fine emery cloth or emery paper he undersurface of the abrasive head tface downward to contact with the 39. .trticularly in Fig. 4, one end of the inserted in aspace between the left t and .a slidable 'block 67 which is pm :the :head 54 by [means of an ecin suitable bearings in the head and a hand wheel 69. A strip 79 of rublt material is placed in a horizontal 67 :opposite --.the end of the head '54 serted part of thestrip 66 when the eccentric 68 are turned to press the end of the head 54. The strip is igainst the under surface of the head ht'hand edge thereof and then passed outer face of a tightening block 71 head and secured to the face of the l sliding block 73, the movement-of y an eccentric 74 and a hand wheel icentric 68 and hand Wheel69. The provided witha rubber inset'76 simi- 70. ris firmly gripped between the blocks t 7-1 is tilted upwardly by means of a irawingthe strip 66tightly against the Lead 54. iiting rod 55 is provided with a coni mounted therein by means of screw jec'ted into thee'lectric circuit with the gstrip 66 is provided with a suitable intact of the contactterminal 42 and 1 head 54 is in its lowermost position a testing fabric between the head and i 78 may be connected in the circuit ile connecting terminal 80 (Fig. 2). tot fabric is mounted on the dome i is mounted'on the abrasion head, the

iy means of a suitable pull rod 81 and i0 contact with the specimen support. flated to a selected pressure by means {blower 44 and the motor 30 set in ie the base 24 and dome 39. The rented by a counter 32. When the test arough contact is made between the dome 39 and the contact rod 78 esgric circuit which stops the motor. )rocating cycles of the base will be iner'82which will give a measure of the in underthe selected tensions.

for example, with coated fabrics or ch as carpet, a more desirable test is tuber of abrasion strokes required to men to a given percentage of its thickdepth. In this case the test will be the test fabric is compeltely worn ore, before contact is "made between iiecontact rod 78. tlter'native circuit is used. The closcontrolled by a separate set of con- 1, of which is mounted in the base i i l 1 20. The other contact comprises a contact rod or stem 84 mounted vertically immediately above the contact 83 in a bracket 85 extending sidewise from the abrasion head andinto which the rod 84 is threaded. This rod is adjustable vertically by means of a knob 86 to provide a gap between its lower end and the contact 83 when the abrasion head is lowered, which gap will be equal to the amount of wear to which the specimen is to be subjected during the test. The position of the rod 84 may be indicated by a suitable scale, not shown.

Except for the fact that the contact is made between the terminals 83 and 84, before the fabric is worn through, the testing is substantially the same as that described above.

In each test the dome will be rotated by the ratchet and pawl 32, 34. This ratchet may, however, be disconnected or released in case it is desired not to rotate the specimen.

When it is desired to test the wearing qualities or abrasion resistance of a selvage edge or of an edge formed by folding the fabric, the specimen plate 32 is replaced by a plate such as shown in Figs. 6 to 8.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 6, a specimen plate 87 is placed on the base 24. For this purpose this base has a raised platform 88 and an upstanding boss 89 which are received in recesses 90 and 91 of the specimen plate. A pair of cylindrical recesses 92 and 93 are formed in the upper surface of the platform 88 to receive cylinders 94 and 95 which are secured in the specimen plate by screws 96. This permits a self adjustment of the specimen plate on the base while at the same time serving to carry the specimen plate with the base as the latter reciprocates.

Mounted on the upper surface of the specimen plate 87 are a pair of vertical guides 97 and 98 having their opposed faces recessed to receive a transverse bar 99. This bar is pivotally pinned on a central upright 100 on the base so that it may rock slightly. The transverse bar 99 carries a pair of spaced vertical uprights 101 and 102 which are received in openings 103 and 104 of a fabric holding block 105. The block 105 may be readily removed and replaced for mounting a specimen of fabric to be tested. The block 105 is narrowed at its mid point to form a vertical plate 106 having a horizontal slot 107 at a short distance below its upper edge. A plate 108 is pivoted to the face of the block 105 by a pivot pin 109 and is provided with a notch 110 to receive a securing screw 111 when the plate 108 is swung upwardly to horizontal position. The selvage edge of a fabric 112 to be tested may be placed against the face of the connecting plate element 106 and project slightly thereabove, the plate 108 swung upwardly into position and tightened by the screws 109 and 111 to secure the fabric at its selvage edge as shown in Fig. 9. When the abrasion head 54 is brought downwardly onto the selvage edge as indicated in Fig. 9, the block and with it the fabric carrying block 105 will adjust themselves so that the selvage edge Will contact the abrasion head uniformly throughout its length.

Upon reciprocation of the base 24 the selvage edge will be gradually abraded until the contact rod 78 in the abrasion head touches the block 105 thereby closing the circuit that stops the motor.

Similarly a folded edge may be tested by doubling the fabric on itself and clamping it as shown in Fig. 10. If the abrasion of a fold over a rigid part is desired, the fabric may be passed through the slot 107 then turned over the upper edge of the plate section 106 and brought downwardly back of the clamping bar 108 and clamped as shown in Fig. 11.

In the modification shown in Fig. 8 a fabric holding block 113 is mounted on the base 24 and secured thereon by means of a screw 114. This may be done with suflicient play to enable the block to adjust itself.

When a specimen is to be subjected to flexing abrasion,

a fabric securing block as shown at 115 (Fig. 12) is mounted on the base 24. For this purpose the base is provided with a central vertical projection 116 to be received in a similar recess 117 in the block 115. The upper surface of the projection 116 and the bottom of the recess 117 are provided with opposed semi-cylindrical or semi-spherical hollows to receive a cylinder or ball 118 which permits a slight adjustment of the block 115 to the horizontal. The block may also be pinned to the base 24 by means of a pin 119 projecting upwardly from the base in a suitable recess in the block 115. One end of a fabric 120 is secured to the front face of the block 115 by means of a clamping bar 121 movable against the block 115 by means of an eccentric 122 rotatable by a hand wheel 123.

The bar 121 is provided with a rubber inset 124 to frictionally grip the end of the fabric strip. The strip is then carried rearwardly over the upper surface of the block 115 and about a flexing bar 125, as shown in Fig. 12, and then forwardly below the abrasion head to be secured between the front face thereof and the gripping bar 73.

The flexing bar 125 is provided with notches 126 and 127 near its ends (Fig. 13) into which are fitted the hooked recesses 128 of a pair of rods 129 extending forwardly from a cross-piece 130. This cross-piece is in turn secured by means of a releasable connector 131 to the end of a flexible cable 132 which passes below a pulley 133 thence over a supporting pulley 134 supported in a bracket 135 on a standard 136 extending upwardly from the base 20.

At the free end of the cable 132 is secured a counterweight 137 which draws the flexing bar against the fold of the fabric. As the base 24 reciprocates forwardly and back the fold or bight of the fabric moves backwardly and forwardly one-half the distance of the reciprocation and the flexing bar accordingly moves backwardly and forwardly being held taut against the fabric by the counterweight 137.

It will be understood that when the flexing bar is not used the connector 131 may be detached from the crosspiece 130 and be retained against the upright 136 as shown in Fig. 2.

As the base reciprocates, the counterweight 137 will rise and fall and the fabric will be bent about and abraded by the flexing bar until it is completely worn through. At this point the flexing bar and its supporting yoke 130 are released and are drawn backwardly to the standard 136 while the counterweight 137 falls through a guiding cylinder 138 to a platform 139 supported on one end of a lever 140 which is tilted counterclockwise and its forward end rises and closes a switch 141 (Fig. 2) to stop the motor. The number of cycles at which complete failure occurs may then be read from the counter.

Preferably the counterweight 137 is secured to the flexible cable 132 by an internally threaded cap 142 as shown in Fig. 12.

It will be understood that two sets of flexible cords, pulleys and weights may be used one for each end of the flexing bar.

It is desirable to maintain the dimensions of the flexing bar exact so that the conditions of flexing may be at all times uniform. To prevent any variation the bar is provided with a wearing edge inset 143 of carbaloy, tungsten carbide or similar hard, wear resistant, material as shown in Figs. 13 and 14 and brazed to the front edge of the abrasion bar 125, the bar being suitably recessed for this purpose to bring the wearing edge to a distance rearwardly of the bottoms of the recesses 126 and 127.

In Fig. 15 is shown a diagram of electric wiring for the various controls for the above mechanism. As shown therein power is supplied through power mains 144 and 145 and fuse 146 to a control switch 147 and thence to terminals 148 and 149. From these terminals current is supplied through and through a control switc shown in Fig. l, to the pump 1 be closed for all fiat abrasi other tests as the air is used Current is supplied from t branch lead 154 and throng a control solenoid 156 to the a returnlead 157 passes to a by the solenoid 156 and th through either a control swit (both shown in the panel of to the terminal 149. When t closed and also the control 5 160 is by-passed. Conseque until the switches 155 and 15 15.6. If, however, the switch may be set to break the cir prior to the opening of the. will enable the efiect of we or a number of abrasion cy carrying the test to complete The opening of the switc control of the fiat abrasion fold abrasion mechanism or nism. These control circu than that of the main pow current is taken from the te branch leads 162 and 163 t down transformer. A secon is grounded on one side th The other terminal is also c branch 167 and a pilot light is sufiicient to avoid direct g From the power side of t leads directly to a control latter to ground through s the flat abrasion, selvage devices.

For the flat abrasion test through branch leads 171 a 173' on thepanel 21 to the te head and thence through t which is connected to grou For the abrasion test th closed, and when. the circuit tes-t through the contacts 4 er-gized. Prior to the ener rent passes from the main 174 and branch lead 175 to ing a test, current passes through a branchcircuit which is normally open but through a lead 179 to the s solenoid being energized cl branch circuit 131. Whe released by the by-pass the the switch 184) to the sole energized also closing sw closing of the contacts 42 ergized opening the switch through solenoid 156 whic ing switch is again started. through, and the de-energi leases the switches 155 a through motor 30. This selvage edge and folded ab sion test for complete dest used, the switch 173 will I being subjected to flat abr and. the; circuit is complet 183. to a depth micro-switch the, abrasion headv and rod trol switch. 185. to; ground. 18.4 is closedby the rod 84 l I l l he circuit to the motor 30 opened, When a flexing abrasion test is to l 173 and 184 are opened and a l86 is closed in a branch circuit 187 nch 182 to ground. The branch ins the flexing micro-switch 141 in 1186. The switch 141 is normally lure of the test strip and dropping t is closed, completing a circuit blenoid 170, thereby breaking the 'ptor 30' as described above. invention fabrics may be tested for destruction while fiat or folded or to a selected depth, and may be test to complete destruction. They toa timed test less than that repstruction. All of these tests are depend upon the altertness or at 1", who may actually leave the apset in motion, inasmuch as it will in the test is completed. xible in that any desired conditions the test. For example the area of 'ay be selected by selecting a suitable a supporting dome and a suitable {ion head lever. in invention, what we claim is: machine which comprises a test means to reciprocate said base on n electric circuit to stop said reten said electric circuit is closed, he reciprocations of said base, a ,ient, fabric supporting dome on fluid pressure so that it can flatten lor-ne having a contact terminal in ilconnected in said electric circuit in head bearing on the surface of a contact connected in said circuit in saiddome and close said circuit. g machine of claim 1 having means h said base. 'ng machine of claim 1 having a lid dome rotatably mounted on said et teeth and a pawl driven by said .lnd' engaging said ratchet teeth to cure. a claim 1 in which said dome is by air under pressure and an air aid dome and a leak valve adjustected air pressure to said dome. 11g machine of claim 1 in which, lome has spring arms extending to aseing machine of claim 1 having a parallel levers pivoted on vertically support and to said abrasion head r head. ing machine of claim 6 in which ilblflSlOIl head is balanced and in weight is supplied by removable ig means for a testing machine ase and a hollow, inflated, fabric flexible material on said base, said lterial having an electrical contact iost surface and in electric conling means of claim 8 comprising Psheet metal within said dome sefal contact and in contact with said iting means of claim 8 having a g conduit delivering to said dome llable bleed valve.

g machine which comprises a test base, a motor driven means to reciprocate said base on a horizontal plane, an electric circuit to stop said reciprocating means when said circuit is closed, a counter to count the reciprocations of said base, a hollow, flexible, resilient, fabric supporting dome on said base inflated by fluid pressure so that it can flatten under pressure, a Weighted abrasion head bearing on the surface of said dome, a contact connected in said circuit in and fixed in position vertically relative to said base and a contact connected in said circuit and movable vertically with said abrasion head to contact with said fixed contact and close said circuit.

12. The fabric testing machine of claim 11 in which said contact movable vertically with said abrasion head is adjustable vertically relative to said abrasion head.

13. A fabric testing machine which comprises a base, a resilient, fabric supporting dome on said base, means to secure a fabric on said dome, an abrasion head bearing on said fabric and dome to flatten said dome, and means to move said base and fabric supporting dome horizontally relative to said abrasion head to and from a fixed position.

14. The fabric testing means of claim 13 in which said dome is a hollow, inflated dome of flexible material.

15. The fabric testing means of claim 13 having means to rotate said dome on a vertical axis.

16. The fabric testing machine of claim 13 having a dome supporting plate rotatably mounted on said base and having a fluid supply inlet to the upper face of the plate, means to rotate said plate on said base and in which said dome is a hollow, inflated dome of flexible material.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,581,215 Kobin Apr. 20, 1926 1,762,164 Eger June 10, 1930 2,032,202 Dennis Feb. 25, 1936 2,100,332 Hathaway et a1. Nov. 30, 1937 2,170,640 Kenyon Aug. 22, 1939 2,251,681 Hathaway et al. Aug. 5, 1941 2,457,276 Ross Dec. 28, 1948 2,565,949 Clitford et a1. Aug. 28, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 378,396 Germany July 16, 1923 

